Luminous sign



Nov. 28, 1950 2,532,178

w. c. MEYER LUMINOUS SIGN Filed April 29,, 1948 HLTEI? CME/HQ,

HTTa/QA/EK;

Patented Nov. 28, 1950 LUMINOUS SIGN Walter 0. Meyer, Warrenton, Mo., assignor to Missouri Jewelite Sign Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application April 29, 1948, Serial No. 23,920

3 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to display devices, and more particularly to signs which employ illuminated tubing, such as neon tubin or the like, to form letters, numerals and designs.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a sign which creates the illusion that the flat letters are of three dimensions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Sign in which the letters appear to change back and forth from two-dimensional to three-dimensional form.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the sign with only the main tubes illuminated;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the sign with both main and supplemental tubes illuminated;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the right end of the sign with the tubing removed; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, it indicates the back panel of the sign which is made of sheet metal or other suitable material, the top of which is preferably shaped to conform with the tops of the letters which appear to protrude above it as this enhances the three-dimensional effect. Mounted on this panel are the main tubes H which are bent to form the outline of the letters, here shown in plain type. The main tubes are connected with a common source of power and are kept continuously illuminated while the sign is in operation. Offset from the main tubes, but mounted in the same plane with them, are the supplemental tubes 12 which are shaped and mounted so as to correspond to the outer edge of a shadow which would result if the letters were flat surfaces and were supported parallel with, but spaced from the panel.

The tubes [2 are connected to a common source of power which has an ordinary flasher in the circuit, as shown schematically in Fig. 5, in which l3 indicates a transformer with secondary leads l4 and I5 which are connected to the main tube terminals at it; and I1. One secondary lead of the transformer is also connected to one side of the spring switch at IS, the line from the other side of the switch connecting with terminal 2| of the supplemental tubing. The other end of the supplemental tubing is connected to the main tube and the other lead from the transformer secondary winding at H. The motor 23, which is in parallel with the primary side of the transformer, rotates the cam 22 through a suitable gear train, thereby causing the circuit to be interrupted periodically so that the supplemental tubes are only intermittently illuminated.

Both the main and supplemental tubes may be of the same color, but a better result is obtained if they are of contrasting colors, e. g., with the main tubes red and the supplemental tubes white.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as described constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a display sign containing a series of letters, a panel with the topedge shaped to conform with the top portions of the letters in the sign, the upper edge of the body of the panel terminating below the top of said letters, a series of colored illuminatable tube-like members bent to form the outline of the letters and mounted on said panel, a second series of tube-like members of a color contrasting with the color of the first series bent in a similar form and mounted on said panel in the same plane with, but offset from the first series of tube-like members, so as to give an illusion of depth to the letters when both series of tube-like members are illuminated, means for continuously illuminating the first series of tube-like members, and means for intermittently illuminating the second series of tube-like members.

2. In a display sign containing a series of letters; a panel with the top edge thereof shaped to conform with the top portions of the letters, the upper edge of the body portion of the panel terminating below the top of said letters; a first series of illuminable tube-like members bent to form the outline of the letters mounted on said panel; and a second series of tube-like members mounted in the same plane with, but spaced downwardly and to one side of each of the first series of tube-like members so as to appear to be the side and rear edges of the letters, whereby, when the tubelike members are illuminated, the letters appear to be three-dimensional and to be extending forwardly of the panel.

3. In a display sign containing a series of letters; a panel with the top edge thereof shaped to conform with the top portions of the letters, the upper edge of the body portion of the panel terminating below the top of said letters; a first series of illuminable tube-like members bent to form the outline of the letters mounted on said panel; a second series of tube-like members mounted in the same plane with, but spaced downwardly and to one side of each of the first series of tube-like members so as to appear to be the side and rear edges of the-letters, whereby, when the tube-like members are illuminated, the letters appear to be three-dimensional and to be extending forwardly of the panel; means for continuously illuminating the first series of tubelike members; and means for intermittently illuminating the second tube-like members.

WALTER C. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,697,913 Hirr et al Jan. 8, 1929 1,942,877 Prouty Jan. 9, 1934 2,025,356 Neal Dec. 24, 1935 2,034,336 Breckenridge Mar. 17, 1936 2,075,666 Foerste Mar. 30, 1937 2,106,238 Deans Jan. 25, 1938 2,126,678 Estes Aug. 9, 1938 2,299,331 Marinone Oct. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 350,542 Great Britain June 15, 1931 

